ELIZABETH CITY – The state’s third-ranked Class 3-A team rolled into the “River City” last night (Friday) and did nothing to hurt their lofty position among the state’s football elite.

Senior quarterback Antonio Vaughan threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as Hertford County High School remained unbeaten with a 61-0 thrashing of Pasquotank High.

For the Bears, it was win number nine on the season and, more importantly, pushed their unblemished Northeastern Coastal Conference record to 4-0. In their last two conference games, the Bears have outscored their opponents by a combined 129-0.

Pasquotank fell to 5-3 overall (2-2 in the league).

This game turned decisively in Hertford County’s direction in the second quarter after the Bears scored only once over the opening 12 minutes of action.

Vaughan had his hand in three of the Bears four touchdowns during that 27-point, second quarter outburst. The shifty quarterback ran for a pair of scores – 6 and 51 yards – and tossed a 33-yard TD strike to Darnell Vaughan.

The HCHS defense, which feasted on eight Pasquotank turnovers, tallied the other second quarter TD when lineman D’Isaac Jordan picked-off a Panthers pass and returned his theft 50 yards to paydirt. Brandon Warren was successful on three of his four PAT attempts in the quarter, aiding the Bears to a 34-0 halftime lead.

The scoring onslaught continued in the second half, but it was the HCHS defense that accounted for three of those four touchdowns. The Bears returned three interceptions for touchdowns over the final 24 minutes.

Two of those “Pick 6” were recorded by reserve junior defensive back Justin Watson. He struck paydirt from 70 yards and 30 yards after those interceptions.

Senior defensive back Michael Stephenson had the other “Pick 6” in the second half – returning an interception 22 yards to paydirt.

Hertford County’s lone offensive touchdown over the final 24 minutes came courtesy of Stephenson who was on the receiving end of a 35-yard TD pass from Antonio Vaughan.

The Bears first score of the game came at the 8:10 mark of the opening period where A. Vaughan tossed a 38-yard TD strike to Monterio Hunter.

Hertford County amassed 437 yards of total offense. A. Vaughan led that effort with 161 rushing yards and 108 through the air.

With an open date on their schedule next week, the Bears will take a brief break before returning to action on Oct. 30 when they visit First Flight High School.